HIDDEN FÜHRER: DEBATING THE ENIGMA OF HITLER’S SEXUALITY (Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Gabriel Rotello, U.S.). 81 minutes. Sunday (May 22), 12:15 pm. Cumberland.
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The directors of Inside Deep Throat and company want to know if Hitler was gay. The argument in favour, many will be relieved to know, is kinda limp.
According to Lothar Machtan , whose book The Hidden Hitler is the centrepiece of this doc, Hitler was comfy in Munich’s queer quarter and had a lovership with his 16-year-old best friend. In its early stages, the Nazi Party had no problem with the fact that SA chief Ernst Roehm was openly gay. Hitler was so distressed that he’d be found out – not because he feared a takeover – that he assassinated Roehm and his queer posse and starting shipping Europe’s gays off to the death camps.
Most of Machtan’s “proof” is based on things not said or done. Anti-fascists were’t immune to homophobia and could have been gay-baiting Hitler to discredit him. Yet – most important – no one person has ever come forward and said,”I slept with Hitler.”
Nevertheless, the exploration of the Third Reich’s relationship to Weimar’s burgeoning queerdom is consistently fascinating.
Inside out festival reviews The new queer crop INSIDE OUT TORONTO LESBIAN AND GAY FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL at various locations from today (Thursday, May 19) to May 29. $7.50-$10.75, galas $21.50-$26.75. 416-967-1528, www.insideout.ca. For complete schedule, see Indie & Rep Film, page 126.
